England Vs Croatia Match Report – Group L
England made a winning start to their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with an entertaining 4-2 victory over Croatia in a high-scoring Group L encounter. Led by a first-half brace from captain Harry Kane, the Three Lions overcame two Croatian equalisers before pulling away after the break to secure all three points.
The match began brightly for England, who were awarded a penalty in the 12th minute after Luka Modrić brought down Noni Madueke inside the box. Harry Kane stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to give England an early advantage.
Croatia responded well and found an equaliser in the 36th minute through Martin Baturina. His ambitious long-range effort found the net following an unfortunate mistake from England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, bringing Croatia level at 1-1.
England regained control six minutes later when Declan Rice delivered a dangerous corner into the penalty area. Kane rose highest to head home his second goal of the evening, restoring England’s lead and completing his first-half brace.
However, Croatia refused to back down. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Ivan Perišić played a key role in the build-up before Petar Musa finished from close range, ensuring the teams headed into the break tied at 2-2.
Bellingham and Rashford Seal Victory
England wasted little time reasserting themselves after the restart. Just two minutes into the second half, Jude Bellingham found the net following excellent work from Elliot Anderson, restoring England’s advantage and shifting momentum firmly in favour of the Three Lions.
As Croatia pushed forward in search of another equaliser, England remained dangerous on the counterattack. Their fourth goal arrived in the 85th minute when Bukayo Saka delivered a precise pass into the penalty area. Marcus Rashford controlled the ball and produced a composed finish to seal a 4-2 victory.
The contest was played at a relentless pace and provided one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament so far. England’s clinical finishing and ability to respond after each Croatian comeback proved decisive on the night. Harry Kane’s first-half brace laid the foundation, while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford completed an impressive opening victory.
England vs Croatia – Key Moments
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 12′ | Harry Kane scores penalty (England 1-0) |
| 36′ | Martin Baturina equalises for Croatia (1-1) |
| 42′ | Harry Kane header restores England lead (2-1) |
| 45+ | Petar Musa scores for Croatia (2-2) |
| 47′ | Jude Bellingham scores (England 3-2) |
| 85′ | Marcus Rashford seals victory (England 4-2) |
FIFA World Cup 2026 – 18June/19 June IST Match Schedule
| Match | Date & Time (IST) | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Czechia vs South Africa | 18 June, 9:30 PM | Group A |
| Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | 19 June, 12:30 AM | Group B |
| Canada vs Qatar | 19 June, 3:30 AM | Group B |
| Mexico vs Korea Republic | 19 June, 6:30 AM | Group A |
How to Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 in India
Fans can watch FIFA World Cup 2026 matches live on ZEE5 in multiple languages, including Malayalam, English, Hindi, and Bangla. Regional coverage is also available through Zee Network’s football coverage across television and digital platforms.
